Automatic coring machine



March 25, 1969 F. A. DURAND, JR., ETAI- AUTOMATIC CORING MACHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1966 Sheet of 3 n 65 -|3O 74 if 74 E' g l hlhf mi?? m 7| g l 1| h 72 72 8 I I 75 yGB 75 la M32 fig 7 3 72 34 3? sa I' 37 l se ffl

INVENTORS FRED A. DURAND, JR. CHARLES R. MY

ATTORNEYS March 25, 1969 F. A. DURAND, JR., EFAL 3,434,517

AUTOMATIC CORING MACHINE Sheet Filed Aug. l5, 1966 INVENTORS M. f mmm N www@ R U D m ,Y T A A @R L RA W F United States Patent O 3,434,517 AUTOMATIC CORING MACHINE Fred A. Durand, Jr., and Charles R. May, Woodbury, Ga., assignors to National Biscuit Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,489

Int. Cl. A2311 3/12 U.S. Cl. 146-52 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A machine for automatically coring pilmento peppers in which a plurality of peppers are intermittently advanced to a coring station by individual pepper supporting means so that rotatable tubular coring means, comibined with gripping withdrawal means may be employed to sever and lift the cores out ofthe husks without damage. The coring means are positioned at one station and the cores ejected by suitable means at a remote point so that they can be collected without interfering with the regular coring opertions.

SPECIFICATION The present invention relates to an automatic coring machine for preparing pimiento peppers and the like for packing. More particularly, the present invention provides an automatic machine for removing the central portions or cores of pimiento peppers and the like in preparation for subsequent packing operations.

A first feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an automatic machine for coring peppers and the like which is of relatively simple construction, easy to operate, and requires relatively little maintenance.

Another feature of the present invention includes a system ffor continuously advancing a plurality of peppers in an intermittent manner to a coring station in timed relationship to the movement of the coring mechanism of the machine.

A further feature of the present invention includes a novel supporting means for the individual peppers prior to, during, and after the coring operation, thereby ensuring that each pepper is properly and completely cored.

Another feature of the present invention includes a vertically extending coring mechanism having a novel carriage assembly upon which rotating coring members are mounted.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of rotatable tubular coring members, each having a continuous lower cutting edge for severing the core from the pepper and also having independent pivotal withd-rawal members forming a part of the tubular shank.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of the automatic pepper coring machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial si-de elevational view of the present invention specically depicting the drive means for continuously advancing the pepper conveying mec'hanism in an intermittent manner.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the pepper conveying mechanism forming a Ipart of the automatic machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the upper portion of the automatic machine of the present invention specifically depicting the pepper coring mechanism in its uppenmost position during operation.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of a tubular coring member which may be employed in the machine of the present invention.

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FIG. 6 is a side view of the tubula-r coring member shown in FIG. 5 after 'being rotated 90 about its vertical axis,

FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of the lower lportion of a coring member wherein a modification over that which is illustrated in FIG. 5 is shown.

Generally the automatic pepper coring machine of the present invention comprises a horizontal pepper conveying mechanism and a vertical pepper coring mechanism, all of which are integrated on a single frame for operation in timed relationship.

The frame The frame of the machine, as seen in FIGS. 1-4, comprises a lower horizontal frame delined by a pair of spaced apart front leg supports 2 (only one of which is shown), a pair of spaced apart rear leg supports 3 (only one of which is shown), and upper and lower horizontal rails 4 and vS extending between each front leg support and rear leg support. Located near the rear of the lower horizontal frame is a vertical frame defined by a pair of `front vertical supports 6 (only one lof which is shown in FIG. 2), and a pair of rear vertical supports 7 and 8 (FIGS. 1 and 4), each pair of supports being connected at their upper ends by transverse rails 9 (only one of which is shown). Each front vertical support 6 is secured to r'the corresponding set of horizontal rails 4 and 5 of the lower frame (FIG. 3) and extends downwardly to a supporting lloor similarly as the leg `supports 2 and 3 of the lower frame. The rear vertical supports 7 and 8 are secured at their lower ends to horizontal rails -4 at points adjacent the rear leg supports 3 and extend upward therefrom. Completing the vertical frame are upper supporting rails 11 and 12 and intenrnediate supporting rails 13 and 114 which extend between the upper ends of each support 6 and the rear vertical supports 7 and 8.

Thus having described the general frame of the automatic pepper coring machine, it is pointed out rthat the vertical @trame supports the pepper coring mechanism along with the driving means for the machine while the lower trame supports the pepper conveying mechanism.

The pepper coring mechanism Now then, referring specically to the vertical frame a-nd FIGS. l, 2 and 4, the pepper coring mechanism generally comprises two components, the coring assembly and the ejector assembly which operate in combination to sever and withdraw the cores from the peppers followed by ejection of the cores from the mechanism. The coring assembly includes a coring carriage which is formed by upper -bar 21 and lower bar 22 secured in spaced apart vertical relationship by a motor mounting plate 23. The carriage extends transversely of the vertical frame with the corresponding opposite ends of bars 21 and 22 extending through and beyond elongated vertical slots (not shown) in the rear supports 7 and 8. These vertical slots allow the coring carriage to move relative to the frame in a vertical plane and are of such a length to permit sutlicient vertical movement of the carriage for conducting the coring operation as will be more apparent from the description to follow.

A plurality of tubular driving members Z5 (four being shown in the illustrated embodiment) are rotatably journaled in vertical relationship to the rear face of each bar 21 and 22. While these journals have not been illustrated, they are of a conventional type which permit the driving members to freely rotate therein but prevent any axial movement. Each of the tubular members 25 is rotatably driven, either directly or indirectly, through a System of pulleys 26 and belts 27 from a motor 28 mounted on plate 23. Of course, other means for driving the tubular members may also be employed, such as sprockets and chains or interengaging gearing systems.

Mounted on the lower ends of the tubular members by means of pins 31 are coring members 30. These coring members will be discussed in further detail later; however, for a present general understanding it is pointed out that they are of cylindrical configuration and have lower sharpened edges for cutting purposes. The coring members rotate with the tubular driving members 25 and are raised and lowered with the coring carriage. In this manner, peppers may be supported in position beneath the coring members while the carriage is in a raised position such as that illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, as the carriage is lowered, the rotating coring members also move downward and into cutting engagement with the peppers whereupon the cores are severed from the pepper bodies.

Associated with each coring member is a pressing plate resiliently mounted on the lower bar 22 of the coring carriage. The pressing plates serve to initially engage the upper surface of the peppers and maintain them in place while the coring members sever the cores. Each of the pressing plates has a generally conically configured portion 41 so as to more easily receive `the upper portions of the peppers. Located centrally of the conical portion is an opening through which the coring member may pass to perform the coring operation. Also forming a part of each pressing plate is a rim 42 which circumscribes the lower edge of the conical portion and on which upwardly extending rods 43 are secured in diametrically opposite positions. These rods are slidably mounted in bushings 44 secured to the rear face of the bar 22. Springs 45 are positioned concentrically over the rods to continuously bias the pressing plate 40 in a downward direction.

Extending upward on opposite sides of upper bar 21 of the coring carriage are lifting members and 51. These lifting members are pivotably mounted lby pins at their lower ends to the forward face of the bar 21 and are resiliently urged outward toward the rear vertical supports 7 and 8 by springs 52 extending laterally outward from stationary spring mounts 53. Near the upper ends of the lifting members are notches 54 and 55 which are adapted to periodically engage lug pins 61 and 62 of the ejector carriage bar 60. When the lug pins are engaged by the notches of the lifting members, which only occurs during the initial portion of the upward stroke of the coring assembly, both the ejector carriage bar and the coring carriage are moved in unison.

Mounted on the inside of the rear vertical supports 7 and 8 and immediately below the transverse rails 9 are a pair of camming blocks 15 and 16. As the coring carriage and the ejector carriage bar 60 move upward in unison, rotatable camming wheels 56 mounted on the upper ends of the lifting members `S0 and v51 engage the camming blocks, causing the lifting members to pivot about their lower ends to compress springs 52. Ultimately the lug pins 61 and 62 of the ejector carriage bar 60 are disengaged by the notches of the lifting members as shown in FIG. 4 and the ejector carriage bar freely falls into contact with the rubber bumpers 29 which extend upward from bar 21 of the coring carriage.

While movement of the ejector carriage bar 60' is provided by the coring carriage, such movement is limited by stop pins 64 located at opposite ends of the bar 60 which ride in corresponding slots 17 provided in the rear vertical supports 7 and 8. Movement of the bar may be adjusted to a greater or lesser extent by adjusting screws 63 which vary the effective size of the slots 17.

Mounted on the rear face of the ejector carriage bar 60 are a series of bushings (not shown) which have their central bores in alignment with the openings of the tubular drivin-g members 25 of the coring carriage. Ejection rods 65, having springs 66 and flanges 67 at their upper ends, are slidably received in the central bores of the bushings and extend downward through lthe central openings of the driving members. The lower ends of these Cil .4 ejection rods terminate in the interior of the coring members 30 and are each provided with a combination camming and knockout head 68 as shown in FIG. 5. The function of the ejection rods will become apparent from the description `of the coring members.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, the construction of the coring members 30 will be described in detail. There is provided a cylindrical mounting member 32 which forms the upper portion of the illustrated coring member and has diametrically opposed apertures 33 for mounting the coring member on the lower end of the tubular driving member 25 by means of pin 31. The lower circumferential surface of the mounting member is recessed slightly so as to snugly receive a tubular cutter portion 34. The tubular cutter may be pressed onto the recessed region of the mounting member to insure a secure attachment between the two elements. The remaining portion of the tubular cutter 34 extends downward from the mounting member and terminates in a lower continuous cutting edge 36. A pair of collar segments 37 is secured to the circumferential surface of the tubular cutter midway of its length. These collar segments are substantially identical and cooperate to extend only partially around the circumference of the tubular cutter whereby two gaps remain between their corresponding adjacent ends. The gaps between the collar segments are aligned with a pair of oppositely disposed vertical Slots in the tubular cutter 34 through which the camming surfaces 71 of pivotal camming plates 72 project partway into the interior of the coring member. The lower ends of the camming plates 72 extend downward into the gaps between the collar segments and are pivotally mounted on the collar by means of pins 38.

Forming a T-configuration .with the upper portion of each camming plate 72 are rods 73. These rods are of a length slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tubular cutter 34 (as shown in FIG. 6) and have tension springs 74 secured between their corresponding ends (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4). These springs serve to resiliently irnaintain the camming plates 72 in the position shown in FIG. 5 with their upper lip portions 74 in abutting engagement with the walls of the tubular cutter immediately above the slots.

Attached to the lower ends of the camming plates 72 and inward of the collars 37 are curved gripper blades 75 which iit into corresponding cutout portions in the tu-bular cutter and form part of the tubular wall when in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. These ygripper blades extend downward from the plates 72 and terminate near the lower cutting edge of the tubular cutter.

It should be noted that the coring member just described is provided lwith a continuous, unbroken lower cutting edge. This enables the coring member to slice cleanly into the peppers during the coring operation without creating excessive frictional drag which could dislodge the peppers from their supports.

A variation of the coring member illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is shown in FIG. 7 wherein each gripper blade 75 is provided with a pair of yknife extensions 76 on opposite sides of its lower edge. These knife extensions are thinner than the remaining portion of the blade and extend downward into recessed areas 35 on the inside of the lower cutting edge of the tubular cutter 34. It should be noted that the lower cutting edge 36 of the tubular cutter 34 still re- -rnains continuous and unbroken. These knife extensions provide additional aid in severing the cores from the peppers.

Thus having described in detail the construction of the coring mechanism forming a part of the machine of the present invention, its method of operation will next be discussed.

IReferring specifically to FIG. 5, it is again pointed out that the coring member 30 is secured to and moves with the coring carriage while the ejection rod 65 is secured to and moves with the ejector carriage bar '60. The relative positions of the ejection rod and the coring member illustrated in FIG. 5 generally correspond 'with the relative positioning of the pepper coring mechanism and the vertical frame as shown in FIG. 4. In this position the coring members have been withdrawn from the peppers, the cores have been ejected from the coring members, and a new group of peppers is being positioned beneath the coring members. Now then, as the coring mechanism moves downward from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIIG. l the relative positioning between the coring assembly and the ejector assembly remains unchanged during the interval that the stop pins 64 of the ejection carriage bar 60 move from the top to the bottom of slots 17. During this interval the ejection carriage bar is supported by the rubber bumpers 29 extending upward from the coring carriage. As stop pins 64 engage the adjusting screws 63 the ejector carriage bar 60 becomes stationary as do also the several ejection rods 65 and their corresponding camming and knockout heads 68. At the same time the coring carriage continues to move downward whereupon the pressing plates enga-ge the tops of the peppers mounted below. The pressing plates 40 securely hold the peppers in position on their supports as the coring carriage continues to move, thereby causing springs 45 to become compressed while rods 43 slide through the bushings 44.

The tubular coring members 30, moving with the coring carriage and being continually dri-ven by the tubular driving members 25, immediately slice into the peppers as the lower cutting edges 36 move into contact with them. As the coring carriage moves to its lowermost position the coring members continue to further sever the cores from the peppers and, at the same time, moved downward relative to the stationary camming and knockout heads 68 of the ejection rods. The ejection rods, of course, become stationary as soon as the ejector carriage bar 60 reaches its lowermost position. The heads eventually contact the camming surfaces 71 of the plates 72 causing them to pivot outward against the action of tension sprin-gs 74. This, in turn, causes gripper blades 75 to pivot inward and grip the severed cores of the peppers.

As the coring carriage reaches its lowermost position the cores have been completely severed from the peppers and are held within the coring members 30 by the gripper blades 75. At this point the lifting members and 51 of the coring carriage have moved a suflicient distance downward relative to the ejector carriage bar that the notches 54 and 55 move into engagement with lug pins 61 and `62 through the action of pins 52. This, in effect, locks the camming and knockout heads 68 in position -within the coring members with the gripping blades 75 cammed in gripping positions.

Thereafter, the coring carriage and the ejector carriage bar 60 begin to move upward again in unison whereupon the coring members are withdrawn from the peppers along with the cores. Withdrawal of the corin-g members is aided by the continued downward pressure exerted by pressing plates -40 on the peppers as springs 45 become relaxed. The combined coring mechanism moves upward until camming wheels 56 engage camming blocks 15 and 16. At this point the lifting members are pivoted inward thereby disengaging the notches from the lug pins `61 and 62 of the ejector carriage bar 60. The bar 60 then falls into contact with the rubber bumpers 29 of the coring carriage and corresponding 4movement is produced in the ejector rods 65. As a result, the camming and knockout heads 68 at the ends of ejector rods release their camming action against the camming surfaces 71 of plates 72 and the -gripping blades 75 release the cores. All of this takes place while the coring carriage continues its upward movement to a position as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus having described the construction of the pepper coring mechanism and its operation through one complete cycle, attention will now be focused on the pepper conveying mechanism mounted on the lower horizontal frame of the present machine.

The pepper conveying mechanism The pepper conveying mechanism is formed by two opposite endless chains 101 and 102 having a plurality of spaced apart slats 104 extending therebetween. The endless chains traverse the entire length of the lower horizontal frame and `are suitably mounted at each end on sprockets 105 and 106. The sprockets at each end are secured to axles 108 and 109 which are rotatably journaled in the lower frame. As seen in FIG. 1, axle 108 of the conveying mechanism extends a short distance beyond one side of the lower fra-me. On the outer end of this axle extension an advancing wheel for the conveying mechanism is mounted and will be discussed in further detail in connection with the driving mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated, each slat 104 of the conveying mechanism is provided with four pepper receiving and supporting cups 120. Each of these cups comprises a collar 121 which is secured to the outer sides of each slat 104 with its central opening in alignment with a corresponding opening in the slat (shown in FIG. 3). Extending upward and outward `from the top of each collar 121 are a plurality of fingers 122 which form a conical pepper receiving and supporting surface. These lingers are resilient to some extent to more easily accommodate various sizes of peppers without unduly bruising or damaging them.

In addition to the cups 120, each slat 104 is provided with a corresponding inner bar 125. Each bar 125 is secured at its opposite end portions to a slat 104 on the side opposite from the cups 120. The securing means at each end portion of the bars 125 comprises a rod 127 extending through both the bar and the slat and having anges 128 at both ends. This rod may be merely a threaded bolt having nuts at both ends. The rod is provided with a spacer 126 positioned between the bar and the slat and a spring 129 positioned between .the bar and the lower ilange of the rod. In this manner, the bar 125 is resiliently held against the spacer 126 in spaced apart relation to the slat.

A series of four spaced apart picks 130` extend upward Ifrom the bar 125 through the corresponding openings in the slat 104 and the collars 121 of the cups. In their normal position, as seen in FIG. 1, these picks extend partway into the lower portion of the cups y and, preferably, are provided with sharp pointed tips so as to pierce the undersides of `the peppers and, on occasion, continue on into the cores. The peppers are thereby supported and held in position in the cups to be cored. Sometimes the peppers may even be pulled into position by such picks. Supporting the peppers in this manner is desirable since the peppers may be easily dislodged if freely mounted in the cups due to the intermittent motion of the conveyor and the variations in size and condition of the peppers themselves. However, it is pointed out that under certain circumstances picks having blunt tips may Ibe employed to provide acceptable support for lthe peppers during the coring operation.

In order to facilitate removal of the peppers from the cups after the coring operation has taken place, an additional provision has been incorporated with the conveying mechanism for withdrawing the picks from the interiors of the cups. This provision may best be seen in FIG. 3 and includes inner guide tracks 134 and 135 positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor but inward of the sprockets. These guide tracks run substantially the length of the endless chains 101 and 102 of the conveyor and have inwardly extending flanges 137 and 138 `which en.

gage the upper surfaces of =bars as they travel around the endless path with the slats 104 of the conveyor. At the exit end of the conveying mechanism and after the coring operation has :been completed, the guide tracks terminate short of the end of the conveyor and the iianges 137 and 13'8 begin their return run. This has the effect of biasing the bars 125 inward away from the slats 104 against the springs 127 as they travel past the exit end of the lower frame. As a result, the picks 130 become temporarily withdrawn lfrom the interiors of the cups 120 and the peppers are free to fall into a collecting bin.

In operation, the conveying mechanism is loaded with peppers to be cored by manually placing individual peppers in the cups 120 and onto the sharp pointed picks as they pass the entrance end of the lower horizontal frame. The conveying mechanism is advanced intermittently a distance equal t the distance between adjacent slats 104 to successively place a single slat with its several cups 120 supporting individual peppers in direct alignment beneath the coring members of the pepper coring mechanism. During the coring operation the conveyor remains stationary; however, as soon as the coring members are withdrawn it is again advanced to place a new set of uncored peppers in position beneath the coring members. As mentioned previously, the cored peppers are permitted to lfreely fall from the cups into a collector as the conveyor turns :to make its return run. The collector, of course, may be a bin or other conveyor for transporting the cored peppers to a subsequent station in the overall packing operation.

The driving mechanism While the coring members 30- of the coring mechanism are separately driven =by motor 28, there is but a single driving motor provided for imparting reciprocatory vertical movement to the coring mechanism and for intermittently advancing the conveying mechanism. This latter driving system is next discussed 4with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Mounted on top of the vertical frame is a motor 81 which drives a common axle 84 through a transmission unit 82. Axle 84 extends transversely of the vertical frame immediately above and in alignment with the coring mechanism. A pair of axle supports and journal assemblies, generally indicated by numeral 83, are positioned on opposite sides of motor 81. Fixedly secured to the opposite ends of axle 84 are discs 85 and 86 which rotate therewith. Each of these discs imparts a reciprocatory motion to two identical linkages extending downward on opposite sides of the vertical frame and which are attached to the lower bar 22 of the coring carriage.

Each linkage comprises a T-shaped arm 88 wherein the cross member is provided with an elongated horizontal slot 89. A pin 91 extending through this slot secures the T-shaped arm to an eccentric position on the corresponding rotating disc. The leg portions of the T-shaped arms extend downward through upper and lower guide blocks 18 and 19 mounted on the vertical supports 7 and 8. Each leg portion is provided with a vertical slot 90 which is of greater length than the distance between upper bar 21 and lower bar 22 of the coring carriage. The opposite end portions of these bars extend outward of the vertical frame and through the slots 90 of the T-shaped arms. Near the lower ends of the slots 90 the leg portions of the arms are provided with upper flanges 92 and lower anges 93 between which the opposite end portions of bar 22 extend. Adjusting bolts 94 extending through these flanges are used to clamp the ends of bar 22. in position, it being understood that the precise position of the bar 22, and consequently the coring carriage, may be adjusted to a limited extent by the bolt.

Thus, it may be seen that as the discs 85 and 86 are rotated by the motor 81 through axle 84, eccentric pins 91 slide back and forth in slots 89' and cause the T-shaped arms 88 to reciprocate. This, in turn, imparts reciprocatory movement to the pepper coring mechanism.

Also secured by pin 91 to disc 86 is the linkage for periodically advancing the pepper conveying mechanism. This linkage comprises an arm 141 extending from pin 91 to disc 86 is the linkage for periodically advancing the pepper conveying mechanism. This linkage comprises an arm 141 extending from pin 91 to the upper end of the vertical arm 142 Ot' a bell crank. Arm 141 is pivotally secured to arm 142. The juncture between arms 142 and 143 of the bell crank is rotatably journaled onto a support secured to transverse bars 14 of the vertical frame. The outer end of horizontal arm 143 of the -bell crank is pivotally secured to a vertical arm 144 having a hooked portion 145 at its lower end.

Cooperating with this linkage is an advancing wheel 150 which is xedly mounted on the extension of axle 108. Rotation of the advancing wheel imparts similar movement to the sprockets and 106 for advancing the pepper conveyor. The advancing wheel 150 comprises an inner disc 151 and an outer disc 152 which are connected in spaced apart relationship by a series of pins 153. The pins 153 are arranged along a circumference of a circling spaced apart relationship in such a manner that the arcuate distance between successive pins is equal to the distance between successive slats 104 of the conveying mechanism.

The lower hooked portion of arm 144 extends downward between the discs of the advancing wheel and is held in engagement with the pins 153 by a spring 148. Therefore, as the arm 144 is caused to reciprocate through the bell crank linkage by disc 86 the lower hooked portion 145 engages successive pins 153 and advances the wheel 150 a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent pins with each stroke of the arm. This, of course, advances the pepper conveying mechanism a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent slats. It is pointed out that the advancing wheel 150 and the slats 104 of the conveyor are initially aligned in such a manner that the slats will be located immediately -beneath the coring mechanism when in a stationary position.

It should be understood from the above description that the driving system of the present invention operates in such a manner that the pepper conveying mechanism is advanced only while the coring mechanism is passing through that portion of its cycle comprising its raised position. Alternatively, the conveying mechanism is in its stationary position while the coring mechanism passes through that portion of its cycle comprising its lower position.

Thus having described the pepper coring machine of the present invention, it should be understood that certain variations and modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and it is intended that the present invention be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an automatic coring machine, a frame, a conveying mechanism mounted on said frame, a coring assembly also mounted on said frame and disposed above said conveying mechanism, said coring assembly being movable toward and away from said conveying mechanism, driving means mounted on said frame for intermittently advancing said conveying mechanism while simultaneously reciprocating the coring assembly, at least one rotatable coring member extending downward from the lower end of the coring assembly and movable therewith, the lower end of said coring member terminating in a continuous circular cutting edge, said coring member having portions of its sides formed by pivotally mounted gripper members which extend to a region above the lower continuous cutting edge, means mounted on said coring assembly for rotatably driving said coring member, an ejector assembly periodically movable with said coring assembly for ejecting cores from said coring member, said conveying mechanism including an endless conveyor supporting a plurality of spaced apart transfer slats, each slat having at least one cup support mounted on its outer side, pick means carried on the underside of each slat extending through corresponding openings in said slat and into the interior of said cup support for maintaining an object being cored in position within said cup support, and means for periodically withdrawing said pick from the interor of said cup support after said object has been cored.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pick means comprise a plurality of sharp pointed picks resiliently mounted on the underside of each slat and said withdrawing means comprise guide tracks for periodically camming said pick means against its resilient mounting as said slats and corresponding pick means are progressively advanced.

3. An automatic coring machine comprising a stationary frame including a lower elongated horizontal frame and a vertical frame, said vertical frame extending upward `from one end of said horizontal frame, a coring mechanism including a lower coring assembly having a plurality of aligned coring members extending downward from its lower edge and an upper ejector assembly having a plurality of ejector rods resiliently mounted thereon in alignment with said coring members of said lower coring assembly and extending downward through said Coring assembly terminating Within the interiors of said coring members, said lower coring assembly and said upper ejector assembly being independently mounted on said vertical frame for reciprocating movement relative to said frame, means mounted on said lower coring assembly for periodically engaging said upper ejector assembly and imparting movement thereto which is in unison with said coring assembly, a conveying mechanism provided with a plurality of slats, each slat having a plurality of cup supports on its outer surface in alignment with said coring members of said coring mechanism, each slat of said conveying mechanism also having a bar resiliently mounted in spaced apart relationship on its underside, said bar having a plurality of picks extending upward in alignment with and through openings in said slat and said cup supports for maintaining objects in coring position within said cup supports, means for periodically withdrawing said picks from said cup supports after said objects have been cored, and driving means mounted on said stationary frame for intermittently advancing said conveying mechanism while simultaneously reciprocating said coring mechanism.

4. An automatic coring machine comprising a stationary frame including a lower elongated horizontal frame and a vertical frame, said vertical frame extending upward from one end of said horizontal frame, a coring mechanism including a lower coring assembly having a plurality of aligned coring members extending downward from its lower edge and an upper ejector assembly having a plurality of ejector rods resiliently mounted thereon in alignment with said coring members of said lower coring assembly and extending downward through said coring assembly terminating within the interiors of said coring members, said lower coring assembly and said upper ejector assembly being independently mounted on said vertical frame for reciprocating movement relative to said frame, means mounted on said lower coring assembly for periodically engaging said upper ejector assembly and imparting movement thereto which is in unison with said coring assembly, a conveying mechanism provided with a plurality of slats, each slat having a plurality of cup supports on its outer surface in alignment with said coring members of said coring mechanism, a plurality of sharp pointed picks resiliently mounted on the underside of each slat, guide tracks for periodically camming said picks against their mounting as said slats and corresponding picks are progressively advanced, and driving means mounted on said stationary frame for intermittently advancing said conveying mechanism while simultaneously reciprocating said coring mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,475,142 7/ 1949 Kane 146-52 2,588,790 3/ 1952 Altman 146-40 2,683,477 7/ 1954 Altman 146-52 2,688,993 9/ 1954 White 146-52 W. GRAYDON ABERCROMBIE, Primary Examiner. 

